Labrador Scenic Driving Routes Map - Road Trips Map

Description:
This map shows cities, towns, trails, roads, national parks, provincial parks, provincial visitor information centres, provincial/national historic sites, ferries, and airports in Labrador.

Previous version of the map (2016)

Labrador Scenic Driving Routes

Overview

Labrador's scenic driving routes follow the Trans-Labrador Highway system and connecting roads through vast wilderness landscapes, subarctic terrain, and coastal areas. These routes provide access to remote communities, natural features, and historical sites while traversing some of the most isolated regions of eastern Canada.

Trans-Labrador Highway

Route 500, the Trans-Labrador Highway, spans approximately 1,140 kilometers across Labrador from Labrador West on the Quebec border to Red Bay on the Labrador Straits. The highway connects previously isolated communities and provides the primary road access through the region. The route was completed in sections over decades, with the final coastal section between Cartwright Junction and Red Bay opening in 2009.

The western section of the highway between Labrador City and Churchill Falls travels through forested terrain and passes numerous lakes and rivers. This 237-kilometer stretch crosses the Churchill River at Muskrat Falls. The central section from Churchill Falls to Goose Bay covers approximately 288 kilometers through boreal forest and subarctic wilderness, with limited services and sparse settlement.

Labrador Coastal Drive

Route 510 extends from the Trans-Labrador Highway junction near Goose Bay eastward to Cartwright, covering approximately 270 kilometers. This route provides access to communities along Lake Melville and the coastal region. The drive passes through forested areas before reaching the coastal landscape around Cartwright.

The southern continuation connects via Route 516 from Red Bay to Cartwright Junction, completing the coastal access. This section passes through Port Hope Simpson and Mary's Harbour. The route along the Labrador Straits (Route 510 south from the ferry terminal) extends from Blanc-Sablon at the Quebec border northward approximately 90 kilometers to Red Bay, passing through L'Anse-au-Clair, Forteau, L'Anse-Amour, and L'Anse-au-Loup.

Battle Harbour Road

Route 513 branches from Route 510 and extends approximately 60 kilometers to the ferry terminal serving Battle Harbour. Battle Harbour, located on an island, served as the commercial center of the Labrador fishery during the 18th and 19th centuries. The historic site is accessible only by boat, with ferry service operating from the route terminus.

Landscape and Natural Features

The Trans-Labrador Highway traverses the Canadian Shield, with exposed rock, boreal forest, and numerous water bodies characterizing the landscape. The Mealy Mountains, visible from sections of Route 510, rise south of Lake Melville. Wildlife including caribou, moose, black bears, and various bird species inhabit the region. The coastal sections provide views of the Strait of Belle Isle and the Atlantic coastline.

Services and Facilities

Services along Labrador's highway routes are widely spaced, with major facilities available in Labrador City-Wabush, Churchill Falls, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, and communities along the Labrador Straits. Gasoline, food, and basic services are available at these locations. The central wilderness section of Route 500 between Churchill Falls and Goose Bay contains no communities or services for approximately 288 kilometers. Travelers must plan accordingly and carry adequate fuel, food, and emergency supplies.

Road Conditions and Travel Considerations

The Trans-Labrador Highway consists primarily of paved sections on the western and coastal portions, though some segments remain gravel-surfaced. Road conditions can deteriorate due to weather, frost heaving, and heavy truck traffic. Sections of the highway are narrow with limited shoulders. Cell phone coverage is restricted to areas near major communities. Wildlife on roadways presents a hazard, particularly during dawn and dusk hours.

Weather conditions significantly affect travel, with winter bringing snow, ice, and extreme cold. Summer travel offers the most favorable conditions, though black flies and mosquitoes are prevalent in forested areas from late May through July. Fuel consumption increases on gravel roads and during cold weather, requiring attention to fuel planning. Emergency services and vehicle repair facilities are limited outside major communities.

Historical and Cultural Routes

The Labrador Straits coastal route provides access to several archaeological and historical sites, including Red Bay, which contains remains of 16th-century Basque whaling stations. The Point Amour Lighthouse, the tallest lighthouse in Atlantic Canada, is located near L'Anse-Amour. L'Anse Amour burial mound represents one of the oldest known funeral monuments in North America, dating to approximately 7,500 years ago.

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